Tikopia lies in the southwest Pacific, part of the Solomons
but in fact a Polynesian outlier with an inhabited history of two thousand
years. The island in only 1.8 square miles but has a stable population of
1,200. Tikopia was one of several outliers that were too small to attract
the interest of missionaries in the 19th century and remained non-Christian
well into the 20th Century. The island has been quite well studied by the
New Zealanders Raymond Firth in the 1920,s and Mike Predergast in the early
1970's.

An unusual aspect of Tikopia was the population's decision
to exterminate pigs on their island because of the damage done by the animals
and the fact that the pigs were ineffictient, consuming 10 pounds of vegetables
to produce one pound of pork. Population control was a key to the island's
stability and survival.

Mike Predergast's book was a valuable study of tattoo patterns
on the island conducted just before the practice died out. The main surviving
artistic endevoures of the islanders are song and especially dance, though
Predergast also recorded interesting geometeric carvings mainly of house posts.

Visit of Two South Sea Islanders
This desciption is by Augustus Earle in 1827 of a meeting with two Tikopians
in New Zealand

When our brig left Tikopia she brought away two natives of
that island, who had most earnestly entreated the captain to take them off,
and leave them upon any other land he pleased, as, according to their statement,
Tucopea was so overstocked with inhabitants that it was scarcely possible
to find subsistence; and the scarcity of food had become so general, that
parents destroyed their children rather than witness their sufferings from
famine. Captain Kent, therefore, from motives of compassion, received them
on board his ship; and, not having touched at any inhabited spot, brought
them with him here. Their extraordinary appearance excited a great deal of
surprise, both among Europeans and New Zealanders. They appeared simple, timid
creatures, though stout and comely, but their hair was unlike anything I had
before beheld, as in length it reached below the waist, and was so abundantly
thick as completely to conceal their faces. By some curious chemical process
which the natives of Tikopia have discovered, they render their hair a bright
sulphur colour; and, as this mass of yellow hangs over their faces and shoulders,
they bear the most striking resemblance to the lion monkeys of the Brazils.

These poor creatures, upon landing, shook with fear, and
trembled greatly when they beheld the New Zealanders, whose character for
cannibalism had reached even their remote island: when our friend George went
up to them, and lifted up (in order to examine closely) the curious mass of
hair in which they were enveloped, they burst into a passionate fit of tears,
and ran up to us for protection. The New Zealanders, with characteristic cunning,
perceiving the horror they had created, tormented them still more cruelly,
by making grotesque signs, as if they were about to commence devouring them;
and, at the same time (like most savages), evincing the most sovereign contempt
for them, from their apparent pusillanimity.

This image is fasinating because it shows that while
the facial aspects of Tikopian tattoo survived well into the 20th century,
some chest designs did not.

After they had been some days on shore, we had a very diverting
scene with them, which exhibited strongly the great difference there is in
the nature of the two classes of savages we now had such opportunities of
observing. I had brought my violin from Sydney, on which I used to play occasionally.
The New Zealanders generally expressed the greatest dislike to it; and my
companions used to rally me much on the subject, saying it was not that the
savages did not like music, but it was my discordant playing that frightened
them away, which might be true. It was, however, a useful discovery for us
all, as I often took that method of civilly driving them out of our house
when we grew tired of their company. But when I began to play before the Tikopians,
the effect it had instantly upon them was ludicrous in the extreme. They sprang
up, and began dancing most furiously; at the same time, so waving their heads
about as to keep their long hair extended at its fullest length: as I played
faster, they quickened their pace. A lively Scotch reel seemed to render them
nearly frantic; and when I ceased playing, they threw themselves down on the
floor quite exhausted, and unable to articulate a word. I have observed (generally
speaking) that savages are not much affected by music; but these two Tikopians
were excited to a most extraordinary degree.

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